Jacob Morrison, President of the North Alabama Area Labor Council, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about American Federation of Government Employees member Michelle Watkins, who became the first black woman elected to Huntsville City Council. He also talked about a new job he is taking with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Watkins was endorsed by the North Alabama Area Labor Council, AFGE and CWA. Morrison said she made several commitments to organized labor, and the unions are looking forward to working with her. The commitments include appointing union members to existing boards and commissions, creating a Labor Board and making sure public money benefits the public. She also committed to holding regular meetings with the Labor Council to keep them up to date on what is happening on the City Council and to ask for input on related policies, he added.
Morrison next discussed that he was selected to be a Fellow for a new DOE workforce development initiative. He will partner with the Alabama State Building and Construction Trades Council to build and expand pipelines to good-paying union jobs, particularly those in the clean energy sector. While he is sad to leave his current job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he is excited about the opportunity to work with the DOE and help men and women find good-paying jobs in the building trades.
For more from Morrison, listen to the show above.